In recent years the condom has been modified for use by women and while its global popularity is on the rise, four universities and health professionals in Turkey are raising the profile of the female condom among young people. There are many types of protection but condoms have yielded the best results as a shield against sexually transmitted diseases. Known by various names around the world, it is called Femidom in Europe and Turkey.

The Femidom has been on the Turkish market since 2001. Its manufacturer in Turkey, Alfatim, has brought in 400,000 YTL in sales since 2001.
"The conciseness of sexual protection is the same all around world. It's not more or less in different countries" said Tugrul Agrali, chief executive officer of Alfatim. "You have to use protection even if you are monogamous. This is the trend around the world. You never know which disease you can get from whom," Agrali said, adding that the country's large young population was the ratianale for entering the market. "It is easier to teach something new to young people," he said.

Dr. Alper Mumcu, obstetrician/gynecologist at VKV American Hospital, said the main function of either condom is the same: to address the spread of sexually transmitted diseases as a global problem. "Even if Femidom is not commonly used yet in Turkey, it must be supported," Mumcu said.

According to a survey by Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine conducted every four years, the ratio awareness of Femidom among other forms of protection is 19 percent. Through a collaboration of Cerrahpasa University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osman Gazi University, Erzurum Ataturk University, Ankara Gazi University and Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine.

Source: PUSH Journal, 27 September 2008